This Saturday in Buenos Aires (9 p.m.), the Blues challenge the Pumas for the last test of a nightmarish tour.
From a sporting perspective, the numbers are good. Fabien Galthié’s players started their summer tour perfectly with a convincing success against Argentina (13-28). A few days later, a French XV “development”with many youngsters and new players, delivered a great performance in Montevideo against Uruguay (28-43).
But the French team will be tackling the last match of a tour ruined by two shameful extra-sporting events this Saturday evening in Buenos Aires. To the point of saying that this final encounter is one too many.
“It was also our duty to react on the ground”
“Rugby is anecdotal, everything else is secondary”declared the president of the French Rugby Federation Florian Grill a few days ago at a press conference. It is probably true. What will we remember from this tour? Baptiste Couilloud’s performance against Uruguay, who scored twice? The successful first goal by centre three-quarter Antoine Frisch in the first match? Léo Berdeu’s 100% kicking performance in the second match? Not sure.
Also read: XV of France: “We prepared as best we could”, confides Baptiste Serin
Because forgetting what happened – the racist remarks of Melvyn Jaminet and the serious accusations of rape and sexual assault against Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jégou – is impossible. These new cases must serve as lessons, must remain in people’s minds so that in the future, they never happen again (We remind you that Jégou and Auradou are presumed guilty, Editor’s note).
Quickly, the end
If the staff tries to preserve its group, the climate, itself, remains undeniably tense. On the other hand, hats off to the group. To these players, irreproachable by their state of mind in the face of this “complicated extra-sporting environment”said Leo Green. “Obviously it affected us but it was also our duty to react on the ground”replied Baptiste Couilloud after the victory against Uruguay.
What psychological state will they be in before facing the Argentine Pumas? Nobody knows. “Since Monday, we’ve been taking the psychological aspect into consideration, obviously. Things have changed in this area. We’ve really done some collective work. We also have mental trainers who support us. It’s an area in which we’ve invested a lot this week.”revealed Fabien Galthié. Will his players be there on the pitch? It doesn’t matter. Victory or defeat, narrow or tight score, we won’t remember that…
